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The Playstation 4 hasn’t been out for that long and gamers are already wondering what will come next on the platform. While the usual answer to this is “wait and see,” there were some significant changes to PS4 that set it apart from earlier generations and also give a hint as to where Sony is going to be taking the console. Looking more closely at what makes PS4 different from early generations will show you an idea of where it just might be heading in the future.

On the surface it doesn’t look like there is much of a difference between the PS3 and PS4. They both share the same tower design and base controller. Many of the games offered on the PS3 extend over to the PS4 which leaves many people to wonder what exactly changed. The answer to that lies inside the tower case. Inside the PS4 there is a lot that has been rearranged and replaced compared to the PS3.

More Power, More Memory and Better Graphics

PS4 features more power, more memory and a better graphics accelerator than was used in other versions. The hard drive is larger and the Sony single chip processor used was designed specifically for this generation to harness the combined support of these resources for the best gaming experience possible.

More Options, Less Distractions

Sony also built the Playstation 4 with more connection options. Whether you are wiring in with an Ethernet system or using an A/V or I/O cable you are covered. They expanded the ports to allow for full HDMI, digital optical and even Bluetooth pairing. They did away with the support for third party accessories and controllers, the only exception being for third party headsets. There are two potential reasons for this move from Sony. For one; doing away with supporting 3rd party devices and accessories means that they were able to create more room on the boards to upgrade the engineering of the PS4 system. The second is less obvious.

What All this May Mean

Sony also signed deals with a multitude of independent content developers that are now creating games solely for PS4; games that can no longer be played with third party steering controllers or combat joysticks. While this does hone the gaming experience down to a fine point that many people enjoy, it may also signal a longer term view of the development of the Playstation line.

If PlayStation is ceasing to support 3rd party accessories, but still offering the games they were commonly used for and commissioning more similar games – chances are there is an upcoming line of Playstation 4 specific accessories to be released. This would mean specialized controllers that are suitable for driving and shooting games that are made by the company making the system so there is sure to be compatibility and better game functionality overall. Playstation 4 seems to mark the coming of age of Sony as the source for serious gamers.

I think we've all had our fair share of seeing homeless wandering the streets with nowhere to go. I get mixed feelings--some of them are huge assholes, but some are actually kind and decent. Regardless of what their personality is, they are most likely homeless because of their own doing, and they should take responsibility for that and try to get back on their feet without begging like dogs.

People who do not work, but ask other people to give them money and food, are beggars. Toda, beggars are looked on with suspicion, because people feel that many of them could get job sif they wanted to. But hundreds of years ago, in the Middle Ages, beggars were religious men who were very much respected. Much irony?

The first beggars are supposed to have been a group of religious people called the Beghards, who lived in Europe about six hundred years ago. Many monks felt they were honoring God by giving up all their possessions and taking a vow of poverty. These monks wandered through the cities, begging in the name of the Church. People believed that giving alms, or charity, to these religious men was a way of obtaining future happiness. These monks were called mendicant friars, which means "begging brothers." They used the moneh to help the sick and the poor. But many other people, who were greedy, and who saw in this custom as a way to make some easy money, used begging to get rich without doing any work. More and more people who did not belong to the Church began to beg, until there were beggars all over Europe.

Countries began to pass laws forbidding people to beg, but little could be done to stop it. Some countries whipped beggars, or put them in jail if they were caught. Today, begging is forbidden in many countries, but the laws are not strictly enforced. In the United States, nearly every state, city, and town has laws against begging.

If you haven’t been under a rock then you know that Smite is one of the fastest growing battle arena games available on Android. It hasn’t earned that position without some controversy. The use of gods as battle characters is causing some religions to complain that the depiction is demeaning, disrespectful and discriminatory. How this will affect Smite’s standing within the Google Play terms and conditions is being watched closely.

The Hindu God Controversy

The inclusion of three of the major gods in the Hindu cosmos, and the way in which they were visually depicted caused an official complaint from the leader of the universal Hindu organization. They stated that such depictions and use of their gods was not only disrespectful to their religion, but purposely demeaning to all Hindus. They asked that the gods be removed from the game.

Smite’s creators issued a response that they did not mean any disrespect to the Hindu religion, but that all religions and gods were open game. In fact, they planned to be adding more gods to the game rather than taking out ones that may have offended people or caused them to feel disrespected.

What brings the concern about Google Play taking steps to ban Smite if it follows through on its announcement is the recent controversy over the Iron Dome games and apps that made it to its store. They have had to more clearly define what constitutes targeting a culture or a race in a demeaning or discriminatory way in a gaming world. That can most easily be translated into looking at how religions are respected since religion appears to be driving most of the strife in the world today.

If you were to take the announcement of Smite’s creators that they will just add more gods from every religion it leads to one very natural assumption – which soon Jesus Christ and Mohammed will be meeting in the Assault Arena. You can be assured that will not happen anytime soon. If it did, Smite would be wiped off the Google Play catalog faster than you could finish reading this sentence. The issue of respecting religion has come into greater play in the world’s political scene, and as there is more global economic issues involved in small politics – there is no way that anyone would jeopardize their bottom dollar to make a point.

Will it actually be banned?

Chances are Smite will be fine. What was an ill thought out response to a cultural concern is not thought to be actually implemented in a way that would violate Google Play’s terms and conditions. While Smite’s creators have shown a remarkable ignorance of the importance of religion and gods to the people who believe in them, it is assumed that somewhere they all have good friends with common sense who are cautioning them not to dare the line with Google Play’s limitations.

Like every gaming system, there comes a time when you should avoid buying it and there is a time that you should take the leap and invest in the home gaming entertainment system; now is the right time to buy into Xbox One. Released towards the end 2013, the gaming system has been an industry leader in innovative gaming technologies and it is the home system for some of the most popular games around – such as Titanfall and Call of Duty.

This is the home gaming system for serious gamers. You won’t be chasing fruits and veggies around, the majority of these games feature hardcore action and cinematic styling. Like all home gaming systems, the console has had its rough years, but these come when a gaming console is evolving. Now, Xbox One and Microsoft stand to take gaming into the future.

What Caused the Rough Year

It wasn’t all that long ago when industry analysts were wondering if all the great games in the world wouldn’t be capable of saving the console. Sales dropped and reviewers and customers complained that the system wasn’t delivering enough to merit the price it was asking. This was a result of Microsoft shifting a focus to try and include more streaming original content and to expand the appeal of the system. They did list the MSRP too high for people to feel comfortable taking the plunge, but with a few price adjustments and the release of a stellar upgrade package – it is reclaiming its place as a leader.

What the Upgrade Package Delivers

The coming upgrade package is going to deliver some key features that will enhance your game play. These upgrades include Blu-ray capability, low power indicators for your controllers and the ability to make mobile purchases. The range of apps available for the console now includes some of the biggest names in entertainment and sports.

Microsoft closed the Xbox Studios because they finally realized that to get the original and quality content they wanted to deliver, they need to focus on the platform and let independent and third party content creators do what they do best. You can now see YouTube, Hulu, Amazon movies, Netflix and Redbox media right on your Xbox One system. They also expanded its VOIP capabilities allowing for better gaming communication, and to make and receive calls using Skype.

Why Now is the Time to Buy

The latest generation of Xbox One comes bundled with Titanfall. This is the game created by the same people who made Call of Duty. In Titanfall, the gaming experience and overall game design are taken up a notch to use all of the revamped technology of the latest generation of the console. With the integration of the Kinect system and an Xbox Live Gold Membership, many of the newer games have integrative features you can activate to get an even more realistic experience within the gaming world. The upgrades will keep coming, but the console is ready to go now.